9 Faith-Based Films About Music that will Shed a Little Light on this Dark World and Inspire You to Place Your Ultimate Hope in the Love of Jesus

In my journey of faith, I have found that both music and movies made for Christian audiences have been a large part of giving me hope and encouragement.

Gospel Music is a huge part of church history. In the 70s when I was born the world called it Jesus Music, today we call it CCM, or Contemporary Christian Music.

Today as I guide my children through their spiritual journey, I have introduced them to some of my favorite singers. Not only do I love my children to hear Christian music I also want them to watch the best Christian movies.

In the entertainment industry today, there is a worldview that is Christianity.

However, there are great Christian movies with Christian content that you can watch on basically all streaming platforms.

Here is a list of faith-based films about music that will shed a little light on this dark world and inspire you to place your ultimate hope in the love of Jesus.

 

First Love, A Historic Gathering of Jesus Music Pioneers

The movie Jesus Revolution was a huge hit last year. It was my favorite movie I saw in the theaters and the first movie I saw after the COVID-19 Lockdown.

While the movie was about Calvary Chapel pastors, there was another storyline in the background. The unknown true story of the start of Christian music.

The most successful Christian songs today owe their start to the Jesus Movement. Many of the artists have gone on to win Grammy awards or Dove Awards.

In this feature film, we see the humble beginnings of the movement. The late 60s and early 70s saw significant problems in American culture as the hippie generation abandoned their parents' values, turned to drugs, and sought love and peace.

This era led to the emergence of young, musical voices, who sang about the new hope they found through Jesus Christ.

The movie First Love explores the life and music of the people who birthed the Jesus Movement, a revolution that swept American culture.

The power of the Holy Spirit moved a nation through music.

 

Teen Musical

My children love musicals. Most of them are Disney musicals. They especially love the ones about summer camp.

I was on the hunt for an option in the genre with a Christian worldview. That is why I found the Pure Flix movie Teen Musical. In this movie, we see a center for at-risk teens is in jeopardy of being closed.

In order to maintain her inner-city teen activity center financially stable once her federal grant expires, Dr. Alexandra Park turns to a musical fundraiser.

Dr. Alexandra Park turns to a musical fundraiser and her own in-housed adolescents to solve her difficulties once her federal grant expires, keeping her inner-city teen activity center from going bankrupt.

The unique aspect of Teen Musical Movie is that it has a "musical inside of a musical." You will enjoy this movie’s soundtrack.

 

Why We Breathe

I live in a small town, and I love it so much. Just this morning I walked to the local farmers market down the road to get my groceries and a few treats.

One vendor there has the best cookies in the world! Many people dream of the big city lights, the parties, and the life of New York or LA. But the reality is if you want peace try a small town.

In this movie, we see a country music legend and her daughter leave Music City, USA, and move to the small town of Nolensville, Tennessee in the United States.

She receives a warm welcome from her elderly uncle, his church family, and the locals, but soon her violent past catches up with her.

This time, will she hit the proper notes?

 

HILLSONG: LET HOPE RISE

Almost all the songs we sing in our church today are from a church in Australia known as Hillsong. Do you ever wonder how this one church started, and how it became the music of the church?

We'll find out in this documentary. You will have a great worship music experience. This is one of many successful Christian films today that has been in theaters.

This movie follows the Hillsong Church worship group as they practice a brand-new song for a performance at the Los Angeles Forum.

If you are looking for music to add to your playlist, then try the soundtrack.

 

Rich Mullins - A Ragamuffin's Legacy

I have so many memories of sitting around a campfire singing Our God is an awesome God. As you read this you have probably started singing it in your head. But the unknown true story of the writer of this song is one you must see.

This is a feature-length documentary film that tells the true story of Rich Mullins' life and legacy. Rich Mullins was a well-known Christian singer-songwriter who led a wildlife before passing away tragically in a vehicle accident.

It was September 19, 1997 (The year I was starting my last year of high school) When Rich Mullins lost control and was thrown from the jeep. A semi-truck swerved to miss the jeep that was turned over on the highway and hit the singer who was on the road.

Rich was on his way to a benefit concert when he was killed. A tragic event that was the end of a life set apart for God.

This is a quote by Mullins “Jesus said whatever you do to the least of these my brothers you've done it to me. And this is what I've come to think. What if I want to identify fully with Jesus Christ, who I claim to be my Savior and Lord, the best way that I can do that is to identify with the poor. This I know will go against the teachings of all the popular evangelical preachers. But they're just wrong. They're not bad, they're just wrong. Christianity is not about building an absolutely secure little niche in the world where you can live with your perfect little wife and your perfect little children in a beautiful little house where you have no gays or minority groups anywhere near you. Christianity is about learning to love as Jesus loved, and Jesus loved the poor and Jesus loved the broken-hearted”

At the height of his career, Mullins gave up fame and money to live on a Native American reservation and teach children music and the promise of the gospel of Jesus, upsetting both the music industry and his fellow Christians.

He was frank and outspoken, upsetting both of them. Numerous contemporary artists say that Rich Mullins' life and legacy have had an influence on them.

Learn about his life and his enthusiasm for getting to know God directly from people who knew him best.

You will be inspired by this good movie to look for God’s love and remind you that God is Good.

A Perfect Chord

Christian Cinema is improving every day. This is one you will enjoy. It is the story of a young girl named Cadence (played by Malia Flack).

I have four daughters. Three of them are introverts. What I have seen in school, sports, and in the church is that there is bigotry toward introverts. People think they are either snobs or that they don’t care.

But the truth is introverts care very deeply, more than most people. Cadence has a remarkable musical talent. This is something she has kept a secret telling only her friend Lizzy.

The fear of singing in front of everyone makes her fear anyone knowing about her love of music. In this movie, you see what many young people deal with.

The pressure from school, family, and society to succeed all while facing the fear of being mocked if you fail.

Her fear is not an external thing, but an emotional fear of rejection. This is a movie that shows the value our introverts have.

 

The Identical

I am adopted. I found my birth family when I was 25. That included finding two brothers and a sister I didn’t know I had.

There is something magical about finding siblings as an adult. In the movie The Identical we see a man who finds a twin brother he didn’t know he had.

During the Great Depression, identical twin brothers (both portrayed by Blake Rayne) were split up at birth.

One of them is adopted by a caring family because their parents, Brian Geraghty and Amanda Crew, just cannot afford to provide for both of them outside of poverty.

Despite having quite different upbringings, the boys' shared love of music brings their lives together unintentionally as they encounter a strong and enigmatic bond that twins frequently have.

This movie stars Ashley Judd, one of my favorite actresses. She plays Ryan’s mother and is very good.

 

Amazing Grace

This is one of the best movies I have ever seen. It is based on the book by Eric Metaxas. I have the audiobook as well as the DVD. I recommend both.

The life of William Wilberforce is a story we all need to know about. Every Christian should hear his story and see him as the hero he is.

William Wilberforce was a British abolitionist leader, and his battle to end slavery in Great Britain was a battle that is inspiring.

The book and movie are based on the true story of Wilberforce. It is both a political drama and a love story.

It follows Wilberforce's journey to pass a law to end the slave trade in the late 18th century, facing opposition from Parliament members who believed the trade was tied to the British Empire's stability.

In this movie, you will also learn the story of Wilberforce's pastor John Newton. Newton is the man who wrote the most famous hymn in history Amazing Grace.

 

The Jesus Music

This is the newest film on my list. I was so excited to find out about this. I had not heard of Andrew Erwin Or Jon Erwin but they are amazing documentary producers.

In this Erwin Brothers' documentary "The Jesus Music” we learn about the rise of contemporary Christian music (CCM) from its roots in the late '60s to its Nashville industry.

At the start of this blog, I told you about the movie First Love, A Historic Gathering of Jesus Music Pioneers. This movie starts where that one left off.

The film features interviews and performances from notable figures like Amy Grant, Kirk Franklin, Michael W. Smith, CeCe Winans, John Cooper, Third Day Newsboys, Lecrae, D.C. Talk members, and Lauren Daigle.

The film highlights the impact of the movement on the landscape. This is a movie for the CCM singers fan in your life.